T.C. Williams Struggles Without Setter Stone

Titans can’t find rhythm as non-setters try to set.

T.C. Williams setter Rebecca Stone, wearing blue skinny jeans and a brace on her injured left ankle, watched Tuesday’s match against Chantilly from the bench.

Without their floor director, the Titans couldn’t find anything to fix their injured offense.

Chantilly swept T.C. Williams 25-15, 25-7, 25-6 at the Garden. With non-setters attempting to set, the Titans failed to establish rhythm and at times individuals looked confused about their responsibilities.

Senior outside hitter Nicole Burdett, one of those forced into setting duty, said she was frustrated as the Titans were limited to single digits in two games.

"I was about to hit some people," she joked. "As a team, you’ve got to learn how to get over frustration and play together. We’re a great team, it’s just we need to shake it off and continue to go."

T.C. Williams coach Rhea Butler called the performance "painful" and said the team needs to move on.

Thankfully for the Titans, Butler said she expects Stone back for tonight’s match at Annandale. Stone injured her ankle playing softball during the weekend.

"This is never happening again," Butler said. "We’re only allowed to have one like that. We just let that go. It is what it is. You didn’t do well, you lost, you keep it going.

"I don’t know who those girls were," Butler said of her team. "That was nuts."

Sophomore Sophie Siegel said the Titans’ problems were the result of a lack of focus.

"I don’t think it was much of not having our setter. I think it was more us in general not being there mentally," she said. "Everybody’s head wasn’t really in the game, basically, and that had a lot to do with not doing as well as we could do tonight. I think we could have beat them if our head was there and everybody was together."

Chantilly (13-1) which returned all-region players Allison Williams and Samantha Reeves from a team which reached the state semifinals last season, didn’t need any help. The powerful Chargers dominated at the net, led by Williams’ 12 kills.

Freshman Kate Whitmire led T.C. Williams with six kills.

Burdett said she expects the Titans (4-5 overall, 1-1 Patriot District) to bounce back tonight.

"It’s a whole mindset. When you lose a player like Rebecca, I guess as a team you kind of go numb," Burdett said. "Chantilly’s a good team. I wish we would have stepped up a little bit more. We were just a deer in headlights tonight.